The Billionaire's Forgotten Wife
Chapter 55: So... About Claire’s Dad

Chapter 55: So... About Claire’s Dad

Xavier and Cassidy were seated side by side in the economy cabin, the plane already cruising smoothly above the clouds. They were on the right side of the aircraft, in a two-seat row, Cassidy by the window, and Xavier beside her, closer to the aisle.

Cassidy glanced at him with a raised brow. "Seriously? You gave up a business class seat just to sit here?"

Xavier offered a small, unapologetic smile. "I thought you booked business class like usual. When I found out you were in economy... I asked the guy next to you if he wanted a free upgrade."

"You didn’t have to do this, you know."

Xavier shrugged casually. "He was happy to take it. And I don’t mind economy. Especially if it comes with sarcastic commentary and a grumpy seatmate."

She rolled her eyes but her smile didn’t fade. "You’re ridiculous."

He leaned back, arms crossed loosely. "So are you. Booking economy just to be stubborn."

"I like budget-friendly things," she said, chin tilting up in mock pride.

They both laughed.

And then, silence settled between them. Not an uncomfortable one, just the kind that came when there was nothing more to say, and the moment was enough.

Cassidy leaned her head against the window, eyes tracing the faint glow of the sky outside. Xavier rested his head back against the seat, arms folded, his gaze fixed ahead.

Neither of them spoke for a while. Then Xavier broke the silence. "We’ve known each other for almost five years now. Aren’t you even a little curious why I’ve stayed in Zurich all this time?"

Cassidy turned to him, her brow raised slightly. "Of course I’m curious," she admitted. "But I figured if you wanted to tell me, you would’ve done it already. So I never asked."

Xavier chuckled softly, eyes warm. "I know. You’re not the type to poke into people’s personal business."

He went quiet for a moment before speaking again, this time slower, more measured.

"I was engaged once," he began, voice low. "We were together for four years. I thought... I thought it was the real thing. We made plans. Talked about the future. But then I found out she’d been cheating on me. With someone I considered a friend."

Cassidy listened in silence, her expression soft, her eyes filled with understanding and quiet sadness.

"It shattered me," Xavier continued. "I was angry, bitter. Staying in the same city as her, breathing the same air only made it worse. So I left. I packed up and disappeared."

He gave a small shrug. "Three years, I wandered. Country to country. Learned every cuisine I could. Entered cooking competitions. Took on apprenticeships. Anything to stay numb."

Cassidy didn’t say anything right away. Just watched him quietly, letting the words settle between them.

"Did it work?" she asked softly. "The wandering?"

Xavier turned to look at her, his gaze resting on her longer than necessary.

"For a while... until I moved to Switzerland. Settling down helped. And then, meeting certain people..." His voice trailed off, eyes still on her. "It reminded me what it feels like to care... to feel."

Cassidy felt her breath catch slightly. She held his gaze, but a quiet confusion stirred in her chest. She wasn’t sure what to feel, let alone what to say.

"I’m glad to hear that," she murmured, not quite trusting herself to say more.

Xavier stayed quiet, watching her expression, searching for something in her eyes, then gave a faint, wistful smile.

And then, glanced at her cautiously. "Can I ask you something?" His voice was gentle, almost hesitant. "You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to."

Cassidy turned to him, brows slightly lifted. "What is it you want to ask?"

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "It’s about Claire’s father."

Cassidy’s fingers clutched the edge of the blanket for a second, then loosened, her eyes falling briefly before lifting back to him.

"What do you want to know?" she asked faintly.

"Were you... married to him?"

Cassidy held his gaze for a second, then nodded once. "Yes. I was. But we’re divorced."

Xavier gave a slow nod, his shoulders subtly dropping as he released the breath he’d been holding, relieved by her answer more than he’d expected.

"You once told me Claire’s father didn’t know about her," Xavier said again, gently. "Has that changed?"

Cassidy paused, her expression tightening. Then she shook her head slowly. "No. He still doesn’t know."

"Do you have any plans to tell him?"

"I don’t know."

Xavier held her gaze, his voice soft, tentative. "How about Claire? If you don’t want to tell her father about her... are you planning to find her a new one?"

The question hung in the air between them, heavy, fragile.

Cassidy blinked once. Then twice. She wasn’t sure what surprised her more, the question itself, or the way her chest tightened at the implication behind it.

She looked away, toward the dim window beside her. "I haven’t thought that far," she murmured.

Xavier didn’t press further. He simply nodded, his expression unreadable, letting the silence speak for the rest.

***

At the airport, Cassidy was welcomed by Claire, Georgia, and Clara. As soon as Claire noticed Xavier walking beside her, her eyes sparkled with delight and she rushed toward him, unable to hide her joy.

Xavier saw Claire running toward him, and a smile broke across his face. Genuine and unguarded, the kind that rarely appeared. He crouched down and opened his arms wide, waiting. Claire dashed into his embrace without slowing down, her laughter bubbling out as she threw her arms around his neck. Xavier stood up smoothly, lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing, his smile deepening as she buried her face against his shoulder.

"I missed you, Claire Bear," he said warmly, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

Claire giggled. "I missed you too, Uncle Xavi!"

Their bond was so natural that anyone who didn’t know better might’ve assumed they were father and daughter.

Cassidy, standing beside them, raised an eyebrow in mock offense. "So, you only missed your Uncle Xavi, huh? What about Mommy?"

Still nestled in Xavier’s arms, Claire turned toward her mother with a cheeky grin. "I missed you too, Mommy!"

Cassidy laughed gently, while Georgia and Clara exchanged smiles, quietly watching the heartwarming reunion.

They walked together, leaving the arrival gate behind them. Cassidy glanced at Xavier, who was still carrying Claire in his arms, and asked,

"Where are you headed after this? Do you want us to give you a ride somewhere?"

Xavier shook his head lightly. "No need. Someone’s picking me up. I’m not sure where she is now, but my sister’s supposed to meet me here."

Cassidy nodded. "We’ll wait with you until she arrives."

"Thanks," Xavier said with a smile, then reached into his pocket to pull out his phone.

Seeing that he was about to make a call, Cassidy gently took Claire from his arms and set her down beside her.

Xavier stepped aside and called his sister. He nodded as he listened, then hung up and turned back to the group.

"She’s close. Traffic’s a bit heavy, so she’s running a little late."

Cassidy gave him an understanding smile. "That’s fine. We’ll wait."

A few minutes later, a car pulled up. The woman Xavier had been waiting for stepped out, looking slightly rushed but still composed. The moment she saw him, her serious expression broke into a smile.

"Xavier!" She rushed forward and wrapped him in a tight hug.

Xavier chuckled, hugging her back. "Hey, Hannah."

Pulling apart slightly, Xavier turned to the others.

"This is my sister, Hannah. Hannah, meet Cassidy, Claire, Georgia, and Clara."

Hannah greeted each of them with a smile and a polite nod. "It’s nice to meet all of you."

Hannah’s eyes lingered on Cassidy for a beat longer, a flicker of recognition flashing across her face.

"I know you," she said suddenly, her voice soft with surprise.

Cassidy blinked, caught off guard. "You do?"

Hannah nodded slowly. "You probably don’t remember me, but... we met once. Years ago. At a charity gala in New York. You came with Zeke."

***

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